Adjective Adverb formation Adverb freddo (cold) feminine form of

ADVERBS (1)
(facilmente, bene, ecc.) (easily, well, etc.)
• Various groups of adverbs exist, some express manner, quantity or doubt, others are
used to deny or confirm something etc.
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• Adverbs of manner are usually formed from the adjective. Look at the following table.
Adjective
freddo (cold)
Adverb formation
feminine form of
the adjective
fredda + mente
breve (brief)
breve + mente
facile (easy)
facil + mente
regolare (regular) regolar + mente
Adverb
freddamente (coldly)
brevemente (briefly)
facilmente (easily)
regolarmente (regularly)
- Ieri ho visto Giovanna. Mi ha salutato molto freddamente.
( I saw Giovanna yesterday. She said hello very coldly.)
Some adverbs are irregular:
Adjective
Adverb
buono (good)
cattivo (bad)
leggero (light, slight)
violento (violent)
bene (well)
male (badly)
leggermente (lightly, slightly)
violentemente (violently)
- Sergio dice che l’esame è andato bene.
(Sergio says the exam went well.)
ADVERBS (1)
(facilmente, bene, ecc.) (easily, well, etc.)
• Confirming and denying adverbs.
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Apart from sÏ (yes) there are many other words that can be used as a way of confirming
something.
Certamente, certo, sicuramente, davvero, esattamente, ecc.
( Certainly, of course, surely, really, exactly, etc.)
Hai capito?
Certamente.Non è un tema difficile.
(Did you understand? Of course, it’s not a difficult subject)
To deny something no and non (no) are used. Non is followed by a verb and the rest of
the sentence.
“Sai nuotare?” “No, non mi piace l’acqua.”
(“ Can you swim?” “No, I don’t like water.”)
ADVERBS (1)
(facilmente, bene, ecc.) (easily, well, etc.)
21
In colloquial language non can be made stronger by adding the word mica.
- “Sei stato tu a rompere il
“No, non è mica colpa mia;
vetro della finestra!”
mi hanno spinto!”
(“ It was you who broke
“No, it really wasn’t my fault,
the window pane!”
they pushed me!”)
• Adverbs of doubt.
Forse, magari, probabilmente, ecc. (maybe, perhaps, probably etc.)
“Che cosa fai questo fine settimana?”
(“ What are you doing this weekend?”
“Non lo so ancora. Forse domani
sera esco con Davide o magari
domenica lo invito a cena a casa mia.”
I’m not sure yet. Maybe I’ll go out with
David tomorrow evening or perhaps
I’ll invite him to dinner at my place on
Sunday.)
• Study the position of the adverbs in the following examples.
- Ho lavorato duramente questa settimana.
- Mi sembra che il tuo vestito sia leggermente corto.
Adverbs are usually placed after the verb.
See Unità 22 for the adverbs of frequency.
(I’ve worked hard this week.)
(I think your dress is just slightly
on the short-side.)
ADVERBS (2)
(molto, sempre, ecc.) (much, always, etc.)
• Adverbs of quantity.
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+++
++
+
—
molto,tanto,parecchio
abbastanza, piuttosto
un po’
poco
niente
(very much, a lot)
(enough, quite,rather)
( a little)
( little)
(not..... at all)
- Ho studiato molto; mi fa male la testa.
(I’ve studied a lot; I’ve got a headache.)
- Fa già abbastanza caldo, domani vado al mare.
(It’s already quite warm sotomorrow I’m going to the seaside.)
• Study the picture.
Hai bevuto troppo. E’ meglio che
ti accompagni a casa!
(You’ve drunk too much. I had
better take you home.)
Troppo (too much) is used to indicate excessiveness.
ADVERBS (2)
(molto, sempre, ecc.) (much, always, etc.)
• Frequency adverbs.
22
Sempre
quasi sempre
solitamente, normalmente
spesso
talvolta, a volte
raramente
quasi mai
mai
(always)
(almost always)
(usually, normally)
(often)
(sometimes)
(rarely)
(hardly ever)
(never)
• Adverbs are usually placed after the verb.
Io ho sempre fame; tu invece non
mangi mai.Come fai ?
I’m always hungry, whereas you never
eat a thing! How do you do it?
Some adverbs of frequency (mai, sempre, spesso, quasi mai, quasi sempre) can be
placed between the auxiliary verb and the past participle in compound tense forms.
- Ho sempre pensato che l’Italia fosse un paese di gente bassa e
con i capelli scuri.
(I always thought that Italy was a nation of small people with dark hair).
- Non sono quasi mai andato in montagna da piccolo, ma adesso mi piace molto.
(When I was small I hardly ever went to the mountains, but now I like going
there very much.)
See Unità 62 for the comparative form of the adverb.
COMPOUND PREPOSITIONS WITH THE DEFINITE ARTICLE
(nel, del, sul, ecc.) (in the, of the, on the, etc.)
• Prepositions in Italian:
di(of), a(to, at), da(from), in(in), con(with), su,(on), per(for), tra, fra(among, between).
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• When the prepositions a, da, di, in, su are used together with the definite article,
compound words are formed.
a
da
di
in
su
il
al
dal
del
nel
sul
lo
allo
dallo
dello
nello
sullo
l’
all’
dall’
dell’
nell’
sull’
la
alla
dalla
della
nella
sulla
i
ai
dai
dei
nei
sui
gli
agli
dagli
degli
negli
sugli
le
alle
dalle
delle
nelle
sulle
- Vai spesso al cinema?
(Do you often go to the cinema?)
- Nella mia strada vivono molti extracomunitari.
( Lots of non-EEC citizens live in my street)
• The preposition con may also have a compound form:
con + il = col but also con il
con + i = coi but also con i
In modern Italian it is more common to use con il/etc. instead of the compound form.
- Fa molto freddo. Esci con il cappotto!
(It’s really cold. Put your coat on to go out!)
PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE
(in, a) (in, at)
• Prepositions of place and movement
24
Do you understand these two concepts? See Appendix 3: prepositional phrase of place.
For the use of the definite article, see Unità 5. For prepositions with the definite article,
see Unità 23.
• IN (in, at, to)
° To indicate position.
- Nel tuo zaino ci sono troppi libri. (There are too many books in your rucksack).
° With shops, places of work and public offices etc.
- Claudio è in ufficio. (Claudio is in the office)
- Nella macelleria di Piazza Garibaldi si può comprare dell’ottima carne.
(You can buy excellent meat at the butcher’s in Piazza Garibaldi)
- Stasera Sandra e io andiamo in pizzeria.
(Sandra and I are going to the pizzeria tonight)
-I francobolli si comprano in posta o in tabaccheria.
(You can buy stamps at the post-office or at the tobacconist’s)
- Ogni domenica alle ore 10 vado a messa nella chiesa di Sant’Antonio.
(I go to mass at St. Antony’s every Sunday at 10 o’clock)
See Unità 25 da for the use of:
vado dal macellaio/vado in macelleria. (I’m going to the butcher’s)
PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE
(in, a) (in, at)
° With the names of continents, countries, regions and large islands.
Without the definite article.
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- Chi viene in Europa ha la possibilità di visitare molti paesi ricchi di storia.
(Whoever comes to Europe can visit many countries rich in history)
- Mi piacerebbe vivere in Portogallo per un po’ di tempo.
(I’d like to live in Portugal for a little while)
- In Emilia Romagna il tasso di disoccupazione è molto basso.
(The rate of unemployment in Emilia Romagna is very low.)
- L’anno scorso ho trascorso le vacanze in Madagascar.
(Last year I spent my holidays in Madagascar)
° With the names of squares, roads etc.
Without the definite article.
- Abito in Via dei Pini. (I live in Via dei Pini)
- In Piazza del Duomo a Parma ci sono opere artistiche di grande valore.
(There are great works of art in Parma’s Piazza del Duomo)
° With parts of the house.
- Gianni è sceso in garage a pulire la bicicletta.
(Gianni has gone down to the garage to clean the bike)
- Preferisco mangiare con gli amici in soggiorno, perché in cucina c’è poco spazio.
(I’d rather eat with my friends in the living-room, as there isn’t much room in
the kitchen)
- Nei bagni inglesi normalmente non c’è il bidè.
(There isn’t usually a bidet in English bathrooms)
PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE
(in, a) (in, at)
° With the following expressions:
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- In centro. In periferia. In campagna. In montagna.
(In the centre. In the suburbs. In the country. In the mountains.)
• A (At, in)
° With the names of cities, towns, villages and small islands.
- Abito a Padova. (I live in Padova)
- Quest’anno vado a Spoleto per il festival.
(I’m going to Spoleto for the festival this year)
- Non so cosa darei per vivere all’Isola d’Elba.
(I’d give anything to live on Isola d’Elba)
° With the word casa .
- Questa sera resto a casa. ( I’m staying at home this evening)
- Domani siamo invitati a cena a casa di Carlo.
(We’ve been invited to dinner at C.’s house tomorrow)
° With the following expressions:
A scuola. All’università. Al cinema. A teatro. Al mercato. Al ristorante. Allo stadio. Al mare.
(At school. At university. At the cinema. At the theatre. At the market. At the restaurant.
At the stadium. At the seaside)
A destra. A sinistra. (On the left. On the right)
All’estero. Al telefono. (Abroad. On the telephone)
PREPOSITIONS AND EXPRESSIONS OF PLACE (1)
(da, su, fuori, ecc.) (from, on, outside etc.)
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• Movement - place of origin.
DA (from)
- Vengo da Londra, la più bella città d’Europa.
(I come from London, the most beautiful city in Europe)
- Karl è tedesco, viene da Norimberga.
(Karl is German, he comes from Nurnberg)
DA + a person’s name or a profession or pronoun takes on the meaning a casa di nel
negozio/ufficio/ecc. di. (at someone’s house, shop, office etc)
- Stasera vengo da te, ma prima passo da Roberto.
(I’m coming to your house tonight, but I’m going to stop off at Robert’s before)
- Sarò dal dentista alle 4 oggi pomeriggio.
(I’ll be at the dentist’s at 4 o’clock this afternoon)
When talking about shops you can use either
the shop owner’s profession or the kind of shop
in question.
- Vado in salumeria. or
- Vado dal salumiere (I’m going to the butcher’s)
• SU (On)
• DA... A... (From....... to)
- In treno si va da Milano a Bologna
in due ore.
(It takes two hours from Milan to
Bologna by train)
Il gatto è sulla sedia
(The cat is on the chair)
PREPOSITIONS AND EXPRESSIONS OF PLACE (1)
(da, su, fuori, ecc.) (from, on, outside etc.)
• SOTTO (Under)
• FRA/TRA (Among, between)
• DIETRO (Behind)
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Il gatto è sotto la sedia
(The cat is under the chair)
• DAVANTI A (In front of)
Il gatto dorme tra le sedie
(the cat is sleeping between
the chairs)
• DENTRO (In, inside)
Il gatto è dietro la sedia
(The cat is behind the chair)
Il gatto gioca davanti allo
specchio
(The cat is playing in front
of the mirror)
Il gatto dorme dentro la scatola Il gatto dorme fuori della
finestra
(The cat is sleeping in the box) (The cat is sleeping outside
the window)
• FUORI (Outside)
PREPOSITIONS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS OF POSITION (2)
(accanto a, per, ecc.) (next to, ) etc
• ACCANTO A (Next to,)
• DI FIANCO A (Beside)
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Il gatto è accanto alla finestra.
(The cat is next to the window)
I due gatti sono uno di fianco all’altro
(The two cats are next to each other)
• PER /ATTRAVERSO (Through)
• FINO A (Until, up to, as far as)
Mi piace camminare per/attraverso
il centro di Roma
(I like walking through the centre of Rome)
Vada dritto fino al semaforo
e poi volti a destra.
(Go straight on as far as the traffic
light and then turn right.)
PREPOSITIONS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS OF POSITION (2)
(accanto a, per, ecc.) (next to, ) etc
• VICINO A (Near)
• LONTANO DA(Far from)
• SOPRA (On, above, over)
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Milano
Venezia
Torino
Firenze
Roma
Napoli
Il libro é sopra il tavolo.
(The book is on the table)
• LUNGO (Along)
Palermo
Milano é vicino a Torino.
(Milan is near Turin)
Venezia é lontano da Palermo.
(Venice is far from Palermo)
Che bello camminare lungo i canali di Venezia !
(It’s so lovely walking along the canals of Venice)
TIME PREPOSITIONS (1)
(a, in, per, tra) (at, in, for)
• A (At)
27
• IN (In)
° With the months of the year.
° When talking
about the time.
- Mi sveglio spesso alle 7.
(I often get up at 7)
- Spesso finisco di lavorare a mezzogiorno.
(I often finish work at midday)
- Sono nato in ottobre.
(I was born in October)
See Unità 17 for talking about the time.
Study the example.
- Sono nata il 20 dicembre 1971.
(I was born on the 20th of December 1971)
TIME PREPOSITIONS (1)
(a, in, per, tra) (at, in, for)
When the full date is given a preposition is not required.
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° With the seasons.
-In primavera è bello fare passeggiate in campagna.
(In spring it’s lovely going for walks in the country)
° With years.
- Nel 1995 il mese di maggio è stato molto brutto. Pioveva ogni giorno.
(In 1995 the month of May was terrible. It rained every day)
° With centuries.
- Ippolito Nievo è vissuto nel XIX secolo.
(Ippolito Nievo lived in the XIX century)
With the days of the week a preposition is not required.
- Linuccio ha fatto un esame mercoledì 14 giugno 1995.
(Linuccio did an exam on Wed. 14th June 1995)
° In is also used to express the time necessary to do something.
- Ho fatto i compiti in due ore = ci ho messo due ore a fare i compiti.
(I did my homework in two hours= It took me two hours to do my homework)
- Si va da Perugia a Assisi in 20 minuti. = ci vogliono 20 minuti da Perugia a Assisi.
(You can go from Perugia to Assisi in 20 minutes= It takes 20 minutes from
Perugia to Assisi)
TIME PREPOSITIONS (1)
(a, in, per, tra) (at, in, for)
27
• PER (For)
• TRA/FRA(In)
° Per is used to talk about the length
of time.
° Tra or fra are used to indicate the period
between the present moment of time and
the taking place of a future event.
- Vado in vacanza per due settimane.
(I’m going on holiday for two weeks)
- Fra venti minuti devo tornare a lavorare.
(I have to go back to work in twenty minutes)
° It is also used for special holiday periods
- Per Natale vorrei andare a sciare.
(I’d like to go skiing for Christmas)
TIME PREPOSITIONS (2)
(da, di, fino a, ecc.) (since/for, in, until etc)
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• DA (Since/for)
° Da is used to indicate the beginning of an action which is still happening in the present.
- Costantino studia dal 1977. = Costantino ha cominciato a studiare nel 1977.
(Constantino has been studying since 1977 = Constantino began to study in 1977)
N.B. In Italian the verb is used in the present indicative .
• DI (In)
° With parts of the day.
- Di mattino è bello stare a letto.
(It’s nice staying in bed in the morning)
• DA... A... (From.......... to)
° Da....a.... is used to indicate the length
of time, specifying the beginning and
the end time.
• FINO A (Until)
° Fino a is used to indicate the end time of
an action that began in the past.
- Ho dormito dalle 11 di ieri sera fino
all’una di oggi pomeriggio.
(I slept from 11 o’clock last night until
1 o’clock this afternoon.)
- Ieri sera ho guardato la TV fino alle 2.30.
(I watched TV until 2.30 last night)
TIME PREPOSITIONS (2)
(da, di, fino a, ecc.) (since/for, in, until etc)
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• PRIMA (Before)
- Prima di andare in vacanza./Prima delle vacanze, Giorgio Rossi era molto
depresso.
(Before going on holiday/Before his holiday, Giorgio Rossi was very depressed)
Prima is followed by the preposition di. If the word prima is followed by a verb, then
usually the infinitive of the verb is used, but if the subject of the two sentences changes,
then it is necessary to use prima + che + subjunctive. See Unità 70 and 89.
- Prima che Giovanna arrivi, Patrizia pulirà la casa.
(Before Giovanni arrived, Patrizia cleaned the house.
• DURANTE (During)
• MENTRE (While)
- Durante le vacanze Giorgio Rossi pensava al suo futuro.
(During his holiday Giorgio Rossi thought about his future)
- Mentre era in vacanza, Giorgio Rossi pensava al suo futuro.
(While he was on holiday, Giorgio Rossi thought about his future)
TIME PREPOSITIONS (2)
(da, di, fino a, ecc.) (since/for, in, until etc)
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Durante is followed by a noun. Mentre is followed by a complete sentence. The verb
is never used in the infinitive form.
• DOPO (After)
- Dopo le vacanze / Dopo essere tornato dalle vacanze, la vita di Giorgio Rossi
è cambiata completamente.
(After his holiday/ After returning from his holiday, Giorgio Rossi’s life
completely changed)
If the word dopo is followed by a verb, then usually the past infinitive form of the verb
is used, but if the subject of the two sentences changes, then it is necessary to use dopo +
che + indicative. See Unità 88.
- Dopo che sua madre era arrivata, Paolo uscì a far spesa.
(After his mother had arrived; Paolo went out to do some shopping)
PREPOSITIONS (1)
(di, a, da) (of/in/about, to, by etc)
• In this unit a lot of terminology is used. Don’t worry about it too much!
Study the examples carefully and check with Appendix 3.
29
• DI (of, in, about, than)
- Questa è la casa di Mario. (This is Mario’s house)
- Un disco di Luciano Pavarotti. (A Luciano Pavarotti record)
- Una lattina di birra. (A can of beer)
- Una scultura di legno. (A wooden sculpture)
- Un gatto di sette chili. (A cat weighing 7 kilos)
- Un vecchio di 90 anni. (A 90 year old man)
- Silvia mi ha parlato del suo viaggio.
(Silvia spoke to me about her trip)
- Giovanni è più giovane di Marco.
(Giovanni is younger than Marco)
->
->
->
->
->
->
->
possession
author
specification
materia.l
size
age
topic
->
comparison
(See Unità 59).
• A (to, at, with)
- Ho dato l’invito a Giuseppe. (I gave the invitation to Giuseppe) ->
- Non sono mai salito su un treno a vapore.
->
(I’ve never been on a steam train)
- Nadia si è sposata a 25 anni. (Nadia got married at 25)
->
- Una maglietta a righe. (A striped t-shirt)
->
- Un piatto di spaghetti al burro e un gelato al limone.
->
(A plate of spaghetti with butter and a lemon flavoured ice-cream)
completion
means
age
kind
flavour and kind
of dish
PREPOSITIONS (1)
(di, a, da) (of/in/about, to, by etc)
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• DA ( from, out of, by)
- Ho comprato un costume da bagno blu.
(I bought a blue swimming costume)
- Da piccolo volevo fare il medico.
(When I was young I wanted to be a doctor)
- Una banconota da 10.000 lire.
(A 10.OOO lire banknote)
- Ieri ho pianto dalla rabbia.
(I cried out of anger yesterday)
- La Divina Commedia è stata scritta da Dante.
(The Divine Comedy was written by Dante)
->
purpose
->
condition
->
amount
->
cause
->
agent
(See Unità 75).
° With lontano and diverso (far from and different from/to)
- Napoli è diversa da Milano.
(Naples is different from Milan)
- Palermo si trova lontano da Torino (Palermo is far from Turin)
PREPOSITIONS (2)
(in, con, su, ecc.) (by, with, about, etc)
30
• In this unit a lot of terminology is used. Don’t worry about it too much!
Study the examples carefully and check with Appendix 3.
• IN (By)
- Vado spesso all’università in bicicletta.
(I often go to university by bike)
->
means of
transport
->
company
->
manner
->
kind
->
union
• CON (With)
- Domani esco con Natalia.
(I’m going out with Natalia tomorrow)
- Luigi parla con un forte accento siciliano.
(Luigi speaks with a strong Sicilian accent).
- Un bimbo con i capelli ricci.
(A boy with curly hair)
- Mi piace bere un bicchiere di rum con ghiaccio.
(I like drinking rum with ice)
Senza is the opposite of con.
- Mi piace bere il rum senza ghiaccio. (I like drinking rum without ice)
PREPOSITIONS (2)
(in, con, su, ecc.) (by, with, about, etc)
• SU (About, on)
30
- Ieri ho visto un film su Malcolm X.
(Yesterday I saw a film about M.X)
- Sandra è ormai sulla trentina.
(Sandra is about thirty now)
->
topic
->
a rough estimate
of age, prices and
quantity
->
purpose
->
price
->
advantage/
disadvantage
• PER (In order to, for)
- Bisogna lavorare per vivere.
(You need to work in order to live)
- Ho comprato una macchina usata per 10 milioni.
(I bought a second-hand car for 10 million)
- Ogni giovane deve studiare per il proprio futuro.
(Every young person has to study for his own future)
° With the following expressions:
per esempio,
(for example)
per caso,
(by chance)
per fortuna,
(fortunately)
per piacere/favore,
(please)
per telefono.
(on the phone)
• FRA/TRA (among, between, out of)
- Fra i libri che ho letto di recente “Los pasos perdidos” ->
è il più interessante
(Out of all the books I’ve read recently “Los pasos
perdidos” is the most interesting)
partitive
IL PASSATO PROSSIMO (1)
(io ho mangiato) (I’ve eaten, I ate)
• Study the picture.
31
- Oggi a pranzo ho mangiato un buon piatto di pesce.
(At lunch time today I ate a tasty plate of fish)
The passato prossimo is formed by the present indicative of essere or avere + the past
participle of the main verb.
• Many verbs have a regular form of the past participle.
-ARE
-ERE
-IRE
cantare
credere
dormire
cantato
creduto
dormito
IL PASSATO PROSSIMO (1)
(io ho mangiato) (I’ve eaten, I ate)
• Here is a list of the irregular past participles of many common verbs.
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Accendere (turn on)
aprire (open)
bere (drink)
chiedere (ask)
chiudere (close)
correggere (correct)
correre (run)
cuocere (cook)
decidere (decide)
dire (say/tell)
dividere (divide)
essere (be)
fare (do/make)
leggere (read)
mettere (put)
morire (die)
muovere (move)
nascere (be born)
nascondere (hide)
offrire (offer)
acceso
aperto
bevuto
chiesto
chiuso
corretto
corso
cotto
deciso
detto
diviso
stato
fatto
letto
messo
morto
mosso
nato
nascosto
offerto
perdere (lose)
piacere (like)
piangere (cry)
porre (place)
prendere (take)
ridere (laugh)
rimanere (stay)
risolvere (solve)
rispondere (answer)
rompere (break)
scegliere (choose)
scrivere (write)
succedere (happen)
togliere (remove)
tradurre (translate)
uccidere (kill)
vedere (see)
venire (come)
vincere (win)
vivere (live)
• Past participle agreements.
° Study the following examples.
- Gloria è andata in discoteca sabato sera.
(Gloria went to the disco on Saturday evening)
perso (perduto)
piaciuto
pianto
posto
preso
riso
rimasto
risolto
risposto
rotto
scelto
scritto
successo
tolto
tradotto
ucciso
visto (veduto)
venuto
vinto
vissuto
IL PASSATO PROSSIMO (1)
(io ho mangiato) (I’ve eaten, I ate)
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- Siamo tornati dalle vacanze da poco e ora non abbiamo voglia di lavorare.
(We aren’t long back from our holidays and now we don’t feel like working)
When the verb essere is used the past participle agrees with the subject, both in number
(singular or plural) and gender (masculine or feminine).
° Study the example.
- Cinzia ha ordinato una birra gelata.
(Cinzia has ordered a really cold beer)
When the verb avere is used there is usually no need for past participle agreement.
° When the past participle follows a direct object the agreement is optional.
- Vi hanno sentito/i cantare giovedì sera a teatro.
(They heard you sing at the theatre on Thursday evening)
Exception : When the pronouns
lo, la, l’, li, le, are used with the verb
avere, then the agreement is necessary.
E’ un pò che non vedi
Silvia e Cristina ?
(I haven’t seen Silvia and
Cristina for a while.)
Le ho viste ieri sera
in piazza.
(I saw them in the
square last night.)
IL PASSATO PROSSIMO (2)
(loro sono andati, mi sono lavata) (they have gone/they went etc.)
• The passato prossimo is used to talk about actions related to present time.
32
° It is used to talk about actions that take
place in an unfinished time period.
- Questa settimana il tempo è stato orribile
(The weather has been terrible this week)
° It is used to express an finished action that took place in the distant past but which still
has some result in the present.
- Ieri sera ho mangiato troppo e non sono riuscito a dormire tutta notte!
(Last night I ate too much and wasn’t able to sleep all night)
In Northern Italy, the passato prossimo is used in spoken language, instead of the
passato remoto to talk about a past action. The passato remoto is now used mainly for
written Italian.
- Sette anni fa sono andato in Nicaragua. (I went to Nicaragua seven years ago)
IL PASSATO PROSSIMO (2)
(loro sono andati, mi sono lavata) (they have gone/they went etc.)
32
• When forming the passato prossimo, the auxiliary verb essere is used in the following
cases:
° With intransitive verbs. These are verbs that do not have an indirect object
( See Appendix 3).
The majority of these verbs fall into the following categories:
- verbs indicating movement
->
andare, arrivare, tornare, ecc.
(go, arrive, return, etc.)
- verbs indicating state
->
stare, rimanere, ecc.
(be, stay, etc.)
- verbs indicating a change of state ->
diventare, nascere, morire, ecc.
(become, be born, die, etc.)
° Reflexive verbs
- Mi sono appena alzato e sono già stanco.
(I have just got up and I’m already tired)
° essere is also used with other verbs:
- Sono bastati 10 minuti per tornare a casa.
(I only needed 10 minutes to get home) fi bastare (be enough/need)
- Mi è piaciuta molto la festa di sabato sera.
(I liked the party on Saturday evening a lot) fi piacere (like)
Essere is also used with the following common verbs:
sembrare (seem), parere (seem/think), accadere (happen),succedere (happen), costare
(cost), mancare (miss), dipendere (depend), dispiacere, (dislplease/mind), toccare(touch),
occorrere (to be necessary).
See Unità 31, for the subject and past participle agreements.
IL PASSATO PROSSIMO (2)
(loro sono andati, mi sono lavata) (they have gone/they went etc.)
32
• When forming the passato prossimo, the auxiliary verb avere is used in the following
cases:
° With transitive verbs. These are verbs which are followed by an indirect object.
(See Appendix 3):
- Ieri ho mangiato le prime fragole della stagione.
(Yesterday I ate the first strawberries of the season.)
• With some verbs the auxiliary avere is required when the verb is used transitively, i.e.
verb + indirect object.
- Ho cominciato il mio nuovo libro la settimana scorsa.
(I started my new book last week)
- Ho finito il primo e ora prendo un piatto di carne ai ferri.
(I’ve finished the first course and I think I’ll have some grilled meat now)
But when such verbs are used intransitively, i.e. the verb is not followed by an object, then
the auxiliary essere is required.
- Il film è cominciato mezz’ora fa.
- Il corso è finito in anticipo oggi.
(The film started half an hour ago)
(The course finished early today)
Here is a list of other verbs that can take either the auxiliary essere, when used
intransitively, or avere, when used transitively: scendere (go down/get off), salire (go up/get
on),passare( go past), continuare(continue), bruciare (burn), saltare (jump),cambiare
(change),aumentare, (increase), diminuire (reduce).
IL PASSATO PROSSIMO (2)
(loro sono andati, mi sono lavata) (they have gone/they went etc.)
• Study the following examples.
32
- Ieri non sono potuto andare al mare.
(Yesterday I wasn’t able to go to the seaside)
- Ho dovuto mangiare tutto, per non offendere il cuoco.
(I had to eat everything, so as not to offend the cook)
With the verbs potere, volere, and dovere the auxiliary required depends on the verb that
follows.
In spoken Italian the auxiliary verb avere is used more and more frequently regardless
of the verb that follows.
THE IMPERFECT - FORM
(mangiavo, andavi, ecc.) (I ate, I was eating, I used to eat)
• Regular verbs
33
I - ARE: cantare
(sing)
(io) cant - avo
(tu) cant - avi
(lui, lei,Lei) cant - ava
(noi) cant - avamo
(voi) cant - avate
(loro) cant - avano
II - ERE: vedere
(see)
io) ved - evo
(tu) ved - evi
(lui, lei,Lei) ved - eva
(noi) ved - evamo
(voi) ved - evate
(loro) ved - evano
• The verbs essere and avere
AVERE (have)
ESSERE (be)
(io) avevo
(tu) avevi
(lui, lei,Lei) aveva
(noi) avevamo
(voi) avevate
(loro) avevano
(io) ero
(tu) eri
(lui, lei,Lei) era
(noi) eravamo
(voi) eravate
(loro) erano
III a - IRE: sentire
(hear)
III b - IRE: finire
(finish)
(io) sent - ivo
(tu) sent - ivi
(lui, lei,Lei) sent - iva
(noi) sent - ivamo
(voi) sent - ivate
(loro) sent - ivano
(io) fin - ivo
(tu) fin - ivi
(lui, lei,Lei) fin -iva
(noi) fin - ivamo
(voi) fin - ivate
(loro) fin - ivano
THE IMPERFECT - FORM
(mangiavo, andavi, ecc.) (I ate, I was eating, I used to eat)
• Irregular verbs
33
DIRE (say)
(io) dicevo
(tu) dicevi
(lui, lei,Lei) diceva
(noi) dicevamo
(voi) dicevate
(loro) dicevano
FARE (do)
(io) facevo
(tu) facevi
(lui, lei,Lei) faceva
(noi) facevamo
(voi) facevate
(loro) facevano
TRADURRE(translate)
(io) traducevo
(tu) traducevi
(lui, lei,Lei) traduceva
(noi) traducevamo
(voi) traducevate
(loro) traducevano
TRARRE (pull/drag)
(io) traevo
(tu) traevi
(lui, lei,Lei) traeva
(noi) traevamo
(voi) traevate
(loro) traevano
PORRE (put/place)
(io) ponevo
(tu) ponevi
(lui, lei,Lei) poneva
(noi) ponevamo
(voi) ponevate
(loro) ponevano
Also: bevevo. (I drank)
When using the imperfect the main stress falls on the second syllable from the end for
example: io dicevo, noi cantavamo, voi eravate, ecc. (I said, we sang, you were, etc.)
The third person plural (loro) has the stress on the third vowel from the end, for
example: loro dicevano, cantavano, erano, ecc. (they said, sang, were, etc.)
IMPERFECT - USE
(mentre andavo a casa, ecc.) (while I was going home, etc.)
• The imperfect is used in the following cases:
34
° Study the examples.
1
2
- Mentre facevo colazione, è arrivata (arrivò) mia madre.
(While I was having breakfast, my mother arrived)
1
2
- Studiavo all’Università di Firenze, quando scoppiò (è scoppiata) la
Seconda Guerra Mondiale.
(I was studying at Florence University, when the Second World War broke out)
1
2
To talk about an on-going action in the past, “interrupted” by another event (the latter
expressed with the passato remoto or passato prossimo).
° Study the examples.
- Quando ero piccolo, andavo spesso a giocare a calcio.
(When I was young, I often used to/would often go and play football)
- D’estate mi piaceva leggere libri in giardino.
(In the summer I used to enjoyreading books in the garden)
IMPERFECT - USE
(mentre andavo a casa, ecc.) (while I was going home, etc.)
To talk about a habitual or repeated action in the past.
34
° Study the examples.
- Mentre lavoravamo, il cane ci guardava e scodinzolava.
(While we were working, the dogs watched us and wagged their tails)
- Federico dormiva, Laura stirava e nessuno si preoccupava del piccolo
Alfredo, che piangeva.
(Federco was sleeping, Laura was ironing but no-one bothered about little
Alfredo, who was crying)
To talk about two or more actions taking place simultaneously in the past over an indefinite
time period.
° For the use of the imperfect in a hypothetical clause see Unità 74.
° For the use of the structure STARE + gerund with the imperfect see Unità 52.
IL PASSATO REMOTO
(io ebbi, noi fummo) (I was, we were)
• Study the picture.
35
Manzoni scrisse I Promessi Sposi nel XIX secolo.
(Manzoni wrote I Promessi Sposi in the XIX century)
• Regular verbs
I - ARE: cantare
(sing)
II - ERE: vendere
(sell)
III a - IRE: sentire
(hear)
III b - IRE: finire
(finish)
(io) cant - ai
(tu) cant - asti
(lui, lei,Lei) cant - ò
(noi) cant - ammo
(voi) cant - aste
(loro) cant - arono
(io) vend - ei
(- etti)
(tu) vend - esti
(lui, lei,Lei) vend - é
(- ette)
(noi) vend - emmo
(voi) vend - este
(loro) vend - erono
(- ettero)
(io) sent - ii
(tu) sent - isti
(lui, lei,Lei) sent - ì
(noi) sent - immo
(voi) sent - iste
(loro) sent - irono
(io) fin - ii
(tu) fin - isti
(lui, lei,Lei) fin - ì
(noi) fin - immo
(voi) fin - iste
(loro) fin - irono
IL PASSATO REMOTO
(io ebbi, noi fummo) (I was, we were)
35
Even with the third person plural, the word stress is placed on the first vowel of the
ending for the passato remoto, for example: cantarono, vendettero, sentirono, etc., not
cantarono, etc.
• Verbs essere and avere
AVERE
ESSERE
(io) ebbi
(tu) avesti
(lui, lei,Lei) ebbe
(noi) avemmo
(voi) aveste
(loro) ebbero
(io) fui
(tu) fosti
(lui, lei,Lei) fu
(noi) fummo
(voi) foste
(loro) furono
• Common irregular verbs
bere (drink)
cadere (fall)
chiedere (ask)
conoscere (know)
correre (run)
dare (give)
fare (make/do)
mettere (put)
nascere (be born)
prendere (take)
bevvi/bevetti
caddi
chiesi
conobbi
corsi
diedi (detti)
feci
misi
nacqui
presi
rompere (break)
sapere (know)
scrivere (write)
spegnere (put out)
stare (be, stay)
tenere (hold)
vedere (see)
venire (come)
vivere (live)
volere (want)
ruppi
seppi
scrissi
spensi
stetti
tenni
vidi
venni
vissi
volli
IL PASSATO REMOTO
(io ebbi, noi fummo) (I was, we were)
35
In most cases the persons io lui/lei loro adopt the irregular forms, while the other
persons maintain the infinitive stem.
Io ruppi
noi rompemmo
tu rompesti
voi rompeste
lui ruppe
loro ruppero
• The passato remoto is used to talk about an action completely finished in the past and
which does not continue into the present.
- Alla fine degli anni ‘60 l’uomo mise piede sulla luna.
(At the end of the 60s man first walked on the moon)
In Northern and some central parts of Italy, the passato prossimo is used in spoken
language instead of the passato remoto to express past actions. The passato remoto is
now mainly used in written Italian.
- La prima volta che sono andato a Parigi avevo 17 anni.
(The first time I went to Paris was when I was 17)
- La prima volta che andai a Parigi avevo 17 anni.
(The first time I went to Paris was when I was 17)
IMPERFECT/PASSATO PROSSIMO/PASSATO REMOTO
(io andavo vs. io andai/sono andato) (I was going vs. I went/ I have gone)
• In Italian there are two aspects of the past: the imperfect and the perfect (passato
prossimo and passato remoto).
36
The imperfect is used to talk about a finished action in the past, but seen as if it
were an on-going event..
- Ieri alle 23,15 guardavo una partita alla televisione.
(Yesterday at 23,15 I was watching a football match on television)
The passato prossimo or passato remoto are used to talk about an action
finished in the past, but not seen as if it were an on-going event.
- Ho vissuto in Inghilterra per vari anni.
(I lived in England for several years)
The duration of the action is not important, if the action is finished, then the
passato prossimo or passato remoto is used.
- La schiavitù in America durò diversi secoli.
(Slavery lasted for several centuries in America)
IMPERFECT/PASSATO PROSSIMO/PASSATO REMOTO
(io andavo vs. io andai/sono andato) (I was going vs. I went/ I have gone)
36
The imperfect is used to talk about an on-going action in the past, “interrupted” by
another event.
- Mentre guardavo la televisione, è andata via la corrente.
(While I was watching television, the electricity was cut off)
- Quando è arrivata sua madre, Luca dormiva.
(When his mother arrived, Luca was sleeping)
Note that mentre (while) is followed by the imperfect.
The passato prossimo or passato remoto are used to talk about an action that
interupts another on-going event in the past.
- Quando é arrivata sua madre, Luca dormiva.
(When his mother arrived, Luca was sleeping)
- Mentre guardavo la televisione, è andata via la corrente.
(While I was watching the television, the electricity was cut off)
Note that quando (when) is followed by the passato prossimo or passato
remoto
IMPERFECT/PASSATO PROSSIMO/PASSATO REMOTO
(io andavo vs. io andai/sono andato) (I was going vs. I went/ I have gone)
36
The imperfect is used to talk about simultaneous on-going actions in the past.
- Mentre lui guardava la TV, sua moglie leggeva un libro e il piccolo dormiva.
(While he was watching television, his wife was reading a book and the little
one was sleeping).
The passato prossimo or passato remoto are used to talk about finished actions
which took place one after the other.
- Ieri sera ho guardato una partita, poi ho fatto la doccia e sono andato a letto.
(Last night I watched a match, then I had a shower and went to bed)
The imperfect is used to talk about habitual or repeated actions in the past.
- Da piccolo mi piaceva andare al mare in estate, ma non sopportavo la montagna.
(When I was young I used to like going to the seaside in the summer, but I couldn’t
stand going to the mountains)
The passato prossimo or passato remoto are used to talk about one-off actions in
the past, i.e. neither habitual or repeated events.
- Mi é piaciuto molto il viaggio in Giapppone.
(I enjoyed the trip to Japan very much)
THE FUTURE SIMPLE
(canterò, leggerò, ecc.) (I will/ I’m going to sing/I’m singing)
• Regular verbs
37
I - ARE: cantare
(sing)
II - ERE: credere
(believe)
III a - IRE: sentire
(feel)
III b - IRE: finire
(finish)
(io) cant - erò
(tu) cant - erai
(lui, lei,Lei) cant - erà
(noi) cant - eremo
(voi) cant - erete
(loro) cant - eranno
(io) cred - erò
(tu) cred - erai
(lui, lei,Lei) cred - erà
(noi) cred - eremo
(voi) cred - erete
(loro) cred - eranno
(io) sent - irò
(tu) sent - irai
(lui, lei, Lei) sent - irà
(noi) sent - iremo
(voi) sent - irete
(loro) sent - iranno
(io) fin - irò
(tu) fin - irai
(lui, lei,Lei) fin -irà
(noi) fin - iremo
(voi) fin - irete
(loro) fin - iranno
For the future the regular verbs belonging to group I change the A of the infinitive-ARE
into an E, for example: parlerò (I’ll speak), aspetterò (I’ll wait), etc..
• Verbs essere and avere
AVERE
ESSERE
(io) avrò
(tu) avrai
(lui, lei,Lei) avrà
(noi) avremo
(voi) avrete
(loro) avranno
(io) sarò
(tu) sarai
(lui, lei,Lei) sarà
(noi) saremo
(voi) sarete
(loro) saranno
THE FUTURE SIMPLE
(canterò, leggerò, ecc.) (I will/ I’m going to sing/I’m singing)
• Irregular verbs
37
Verbs that drop the infinitive vowel.
Andare
dovere
potere
sapere
vedere
vivere
(go)
(must)
(can)
(know)
(see)
(live)
Andrò
dovrò
potrò
saprò
vedrò
vivrò
Verbs that drop the infinitive vowel and
change the l or the n of the stem into rr.
Rimanere
tenere
venire
volere
(stay)
(hold, keep)
(come)
(want)
Rimarrò
terrò
verrò
vorrò
Bere
(drink)
Berrò
Dare
fare
stare
(give)
Darò
(do, make) farò
(be, stay) starò
Verbs that maintain the infinitive a.
With verbs ending in-CARE and -GARE an H is added before the E, for example:
spiegare (explain) -> spiegherò; cercare (look for) -> cercherò.
Verbs ending in -CIARE and -GIARE drop the I, for example:
annunciare (announce) -> annuncerò, mangiare(eat) -> mangerò.
THE FUTURE SIMPLE
(canterò, leggerò, ecc.) (I will/ I’m going to sing/I’m singing)
37
• The future simple is used :
° to talk about future events seen from the present:
- Fra due settimane sarò al caldo
(I’ll be where it is hot in two week’s time.)
° to talk about future uncertainty or doubts:
- Che cosa penseranno ora di me i tuoi genitori?
(What will your parent’s think of me now?)
° to express a supposition:
- Sarai stanco, ti porto a letto!
(You must be tired, I’ll put you to bed!)
In Italian the present indicative is often used instead of the future simple:
- Quest’estate vado in Turchia. (This summer I’m g oing to Turkey)
SUBJECT PRONOUNS
(io, tu, ecc.) (I, you, etc.)
• Do you remember what a personal pronoun is? See Appendix 3.
38
• Subject pronouns.
first person
second person
third person
singular
io
tu
egli, lui, esso
ella, lei, essa
plural
noi
voi
essi, esse, loro
• The subject pronoun is rarely expressed in Italian.
- Ho chiamato Carlo e gli ho detto della nuova casa.
(I called Carlo and told him about the new house)
However in some cases it does need to be used:
° When the speaker wants to contrast the two subjects in question.
- Lui sa l’inglese, ma lei non capisce nemmeno una parola.
(He speaks English but she doesn’t understand a word)
° When the speaker wants to emphasise the subject; in such cases the subject pronoun
is often placed after the verb.
- Me l’ha detto lei, ma non ci credo.
(She told me but I don’t believe it)
° When anche, neanche, neppure, nemmeno (also, neither) are used
- Anche noi vogliamo provare a giocare a squash.
(We would also like to try a game of squash)
SUBJECT PRONOUNS
(io, tu, ecc.) (I, you, etc.)
38
• In modern Italian lui and lei are used much more than egli, ella, essa. In the plural form
loro takes the place of essi and esse.
Esso is used for objects or animals.
• In Italian the subject pronoun tu is used
when there is an informal relationship
between the two speakers.
When the relationship is more formal the
the polite form Lei is used.
Study the picture.
Tu sei Carlo. E Lei deve
essere la mamma, giusto ?
(You’re Carlo. So you
must be his mother?)
Si, sono la mamma
di Carlo. E Lei è il signor ?
(Yes I am Carlo’s mother .
And you are Mr?)
Lei (the polite form) is used for both masculine and feminine genders.
° In modern Italian the plural subject pronoun
voi is almost always used for both polite and
informal situations.
The subject pronoun Loro is rarely used
nowadays as the plural polite form.
Cosa volete bere ?
(What would you like to drink?)
STRESSED OBJECT PRONOUNS
(me, a te, ecc.) (me, to you etc.)
• Do you understand what is meant by “subject” and “object”? See Appendix 3.
39
Object pronouns have both stressed and unstressed forms. If you want to know why,
see Appendix 3. Otherwise you need only learn which are which.
• Object pronouns
Stressed forms
singular
plural
first person
me (me)
noi (us)
second person
te (you)
voi (you)
masculine
lui, esso (him, it)
essi, loro (them)
feminine
lei, essa (her, it)
esse, loro (them)
reflexive
sé (oneself etc.)
sé (themselves)
third person
Lui, lei, loro are used for people; esso, essa, essi, esse for both things or people.
STRESSED OBJECT PRONOUNS
(me, a te, ecc.) (me, to you etc.)
• Stressed object pronouns are used:
39
° when preceded by a preposition, i.e. as indirect object pronouns.
Posso venire con te al mare domani?
(Can I come to the seaside with you tomorrow?)
° to emphasise a person used as the object pronoun in the sentence.
- Hai visto me o mio fratello ieri al supermercato?
(Did you see me or my brother at the supermarket yesterday?)
• Study the example.
- Prima di te ho avuto colleghi insopportabili.
(My colleagues were unbearable before you)
STRESSED OBJECT PRONOUNS
(me, a te, ecc.) (me, to you etc.)
39
The stressed object pronouns are usually preceded by di when used with words such as:
dentro, fuori, prima, dopo, sopra, sotto, senza, contro,
• Sé is the reflexive form for the third person singular and plural
Sé can be made more emphatic by se stesso/a/i/e.
Note that with the form se stesso there is no accent on sé.
- Lui pensa solo a sé (se stesso) e non si interessa mai agli altri.
(He only thinks about himself and takes no interest in other people.)
UNSTRESSED OBJECT PRONOUNS
(mi, ti, ecc.) (me, you, etc.)
• Can you remember the difference between a direct and indirect object pronoun? What is
a complemento di termine and un complemento oggetto? See Appendix 3.
40
• Unstressed object pronouns are the most common. They are used as direct and indirect
object pronouns when there is no need to give special emphasis to the pronoun.
Unstressed direct object pronouns
singular
plural
first person
mi (me)
ci (us)
second person
ti (you)
vi (you)
masculine
lo (him, it)
li (them)
feminine
la (her, it)
le
reflexive
si (oneself etc.)
si
third person
• Unstressed pronouns are used as the direct object in a sentence . The direct object
pronoun answers the questions of: chi? and che cosa?
- Claudio, ti ho chiamato ieri, ma non eri in casa. (Ti = who did you call? Claudio.)
(Claudio, I called you yesterday, but you weren’t at home)
UNSTRESSED OBJECT PRONOUNS
(mi, ti, ecc.) (me, you, etc.)
•
Unstressed indirect object pronouns
40
singular
plural
first person
mi (me)
ci (us)
second person
ti (you)
vi (you)
masculine
gli (him, it)
loro/gli (them)
feminine
le (her, it)
loro/gli
reflexive
si (oneself etc.)
si (themselves)
third person
• Unstressed pronouns are used as the indirect object pronoun in a sentence, where the
preposition a is not expressed. The indirect object pronoun answers the questions of: a
chi? A che cosa?
- Ho visto Silvio e gli ho detto di telefonare a Luca.
(Gli = who did you tell to phone Luca? A Silvio.)
(I saw Silvio and told him to telephone Luca)
The masculine and feminine form of the third person plural for the indirect object
pronoun is loro, however, in modern Italian gli is often used instead of loro again for both
sexes.
- I miei genitori mi hanno chiesto quando penso di sposarmi. Ho risposto
loro che non lo sapevo.
(Gli ho risposto che non lo sapevo.)
(My parents have asked when I am thinking of getting married. I told them
that I didn’t know.)
UNSTRESSED OBJECT PRONOUNS
(mi, ti, ecc.) (me, you, etc.)
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• Unstressed object pronouns are placed:
° before the verb when used in an indicative, conditional or subjunctive sentence.
- Mi dai un bicchiere d’acqua, per favore?
(Can you give me a glass of water, please?)
- Ti piacerebbe andare in vacanza in Madagascar?
(Would you like to go to Madagascar on holiday?)
- Signora, mi dica, come fa a mantenersi così in forma?
(Tell me, how you manage to keep so fit?)
° After the verb when used with an infinitive, a participle, a gerund or imperative.
(II person sing. and plural).
- Sarebbe bello conoscerla meglio, ma ha un marito molto geloso.
(It would be nice to get to know her more, but her husband is very jealous)
- Silvana ha accettato il contratto di lavoro propostole.
(Silvana accepted the contract they proposed)
- Parlandogli, forse potrei capire il suo punto di vista.
(Talking to him, maybe I could understand his point of view)
- Lasciami in pace, non vedi che sto lavorando!
(Leave me alone, can’t you see I’m working!)
When the infinitive is used with an unstressed pronoun the final e of the verb is
dropped.
parlare + gli
->
parlargli (Speak to him!)
leggere + lo
->
leggerlo (Read it!)
With dovere, potere, sapere e volere two constructions are possible:
Voglio conoscerla
oppure
La voglio conoscere (I want to meet her)